September 2025

Dear Colleagues,

As we kick off a new school year, I would like to take a moment to recognize and celebrate the incredible dedication of New York’s educators. Your passion, perseverance, and commitment make it possible for every child to grow academically, socially, and emotionally. Let’s make this year one of inspiration, connection, and meaningful progress.

Here are some key messages and resources to support you throughout the year:

Welcome Back Video Message:

Please take a few moments to watch my welcome back message to all educators, students, and families.

Graduation Measures:

The Graduation Measures Initiative demonstrates the New York State Education Department’s commitment to transforming education in New York State to meet the expectations voiced by stakeholders and the challenges of the 21st century.

In July 2025, the Board of Regents and the Department officially adopted the New York State Portrait of a Graduate. The Portrait of a Graduate serves as a forward-looking framework, where academic excellence intersects with the demands of a dynamic, rapidly changing world.

To ensure clarity and support stakeholders’ shared understanding of the Portrait of a Graduate, the Department developed “Need-to-Know” documents for students, parents, educators, administrators, and school board members.

Media Literacy Toolkit:

New York’s Media Literacy Toolkit helps educators teach students to spot misinformation online. The toolkit includes tools and resources for educators to help students analyze, evaluate, and use media.

Focus on Student Well-being:

NYSED’s School Health Education webpage provides comprehensive mental health resources to help you in this essential work. In addition, the New York State Center for School Safety is a vital resource for training, technical assistance, and support around creating safe and healthy school environments.

In this edition of News and Notes, I am thrilled to introduce the 2026 New York State Teacher of the Year, Prince Johnson, a 9th grade teacher at Food and Finance High School in Manhattan. Mr. Johnson is known for his innovative, inclusive teaching, deep commitment to equity and professional growth, and transformative impact on students and school culture. I am proud to honor Mr. Johnson as our Teacher of the Year. Congratulations!



Best wishes for a healthy and happy school year.

Sincerely,

Betty A. Rosa

Commissioner

Congratulations to Prince Johnson, a 9th grade social studies teacher at Food and Finance High School in Manhattan, the 2026 New York State Teacher of the Year.

Each year, New York selects a teacher whose passion for teaching, involvement in their community, and impact on their school’s culture far exceeds expectations. As Teacher of the Year, Mr. Johnson will not only serve as an ambassador for New York State teachers, but will also serve as the state’s nominee for the National Teacher of the Year Program, whose winner is announced each spring. 

Currently in his 27th year of teaching, Mr. Johnson has spent the last 18 years as an educator at Food and Finance High School, a Career and Technical Education high school for the culinary arts. He currently teaches 9th grade AP Human Geography in an inclusive classroom that includes students with disabilities and English Language Learners. Mr. Johnson not only engages students by incorporating culinary themes into class assignments, but encourages students to explore their heritage through the lens of culinary history, geography, and migration. His classroom also serves as a safe haven for students before school, at lunch, and after school. In the 2024-25 school year, he served as the advisor for the school’s first-ever Horror Film Club, where he screened movies in his classroom each week and empowered student members to lead and facilitate the direction of the club. 

Mr. Johnson is passionate about both his own and his colleagues’ professional development. From 2019-2020 he was granted a yearlong educational sabbatical at Rutgers University to study African American History. His commitment to continued growth and learning has helped him to facilitate equity-centered projects in AP Human Geography and AP African American Studies, and to incorporate non-Western perspectives in Global History, as well as African American, Latinx, and LGBTQ perspectives in American History. Additionally, Mr. Johnson has served as a mentor for new teachers and facilitated professional development on the use of Universal Design for Learning. He is also a member of the school leadership team, helping to give a voice to teachers as part of the educational decision-making process for the school. 

Congratulations to the finalists for the 2026 New York State Teacher of the Year who were also honored:



• Colleen Hall – English teacher, Brighton High School, Brighton Central School District 
• Nicole Greene – Special Education teacher, Scarsdale Middle School, Scarsdale Public Schools 
• Betty Haynes – Social Studies teacher, Cleveland Hill Middle School, Cleveland Hill Union Free School District
• Lisa Egan – 3rd grade teacher, Cross Hill Academy, Yonkers Public Schools

At the September 2025 Board of Regents meeting, the New York State Education Department (NYSED) proposed the state’s first-ever statewide dual enrollment policy.

Dual enrollment programs allow high school students to earn college credit while completing their graduation requirements, giving them a powerful head start on higher education.

Research shows these programs boost:

• High school graduation rates
• College enrollment
• Degree completion

A Notice of Proposed Rule Making will be published in the State Register on September 24, 2025, opening a 60-day public comment period.

The Albert Shanker grant was established to defray the costs of National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) certification to eligible New York State public school teachers. NYSED makes funding available through the Albert Shanker grant to support eligible New York State public school teachers in the following order:

• Candidates seeking their first National Board Certification.
• Candidates seeking to retake one component.
• Candidates seeking to maintain their certification.

The application deadline is February 6, 2026. Funding is limited and allocated on a first-come, first-served basis to eligible candidates in the priority order of funding.

Resources are available on NYSED's Albert Shanker Grant webpage and in the candidate FAQ. Questions may be directed to shankergrant@nysed.gov.

At the September 2025 Board of Regents meeting, the Board and NYSED recognized the winner of the 2025 Marge A. Tierney Memorial Scholarship. The scholarship provides a $1,000 award to a student enrolled in a graduate program in vocational rehabilitation counseling.

Congratulations to Cindy Choe, a graduate student in the Rehabilitation Counseling program at the University at Buffalo, for receiving the 2025 Marge A. Tierney Memorial Scholarship!

The New York State Museum, in collaboration with the City of Albany's Youth & Workforce Services LIGHT Youth Employment Program, recently concluded its 2025 summer youth internship program with a vibrant, three-day public event. Over the summer, high school students from Albany took center stage, leading interactive, pop-up programs for families and young visitors. These student-designed activities offered fresh, hands-on ways to explore New York’s history, science, and culture.

This event celebrated the end of a six-week paid internship that brought 13 local students, ages 16 to 18, into the Museum through partnerships with the LIGHT Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) and the Girls Inc. Eureka! program. Over the course of their internship, students worked alongside museum professionals—scientists, historians, educators, archivists, and exhibit designers—gaining valuable behind-the-scenes experience and creating engaging programs for the public.

New York State Museum Announces Publication Celebrating Artist Margery Ryerson

The New York State Museum proudly presents “Margery Ryerson: Art is Contagious” — a beautifully illustrated catalog celebrating the life and legacy of Margery Ryerson (1886–1989), whose art captured the heart of everyday life.



From vibrant cityscapes to intimate portraits of immigrant families in NYC’s settlement houses, Ryerson’s work radiates honesty, dignity, and humanity. Discover over 100 stunning images and the stories behind them in this powerful new publication.

The New York State Museum is cranking up the volume and turning back the clock with “Here Are The Beatles!” – a brand-new lobby display that transports visitors straight to one of the most electrifying nights in rock ‘n’ roll history—August 15, 1965—when the Fab Four took Shea Stadium by storm.

“Here Are The Beatles!” will be on view in the Museum’s lobby through the fall. It is free and open to the public during regular museum hours.